INDUSTRY NEWS

Industrial laser company Rofin-Sinar Technologies and FiLaser, a developer of singulation processes for brittle materials, have entered into an asset purchase agreement, under which Rofin will acquire the assets of FiLaser and subsidiaries. The transaction is expected to close in March 2014.

FiLaser, based in Oregon, USA has developed advanced laser process technology used for precision cutting and drilling of brittle materials including glass, sapphire and semiconductor substrates. Its applications are found in the touch panel display, LCD, cell phone display, LED, and semiconductor markets.

The new agreement includes all intellectual property including trademarks, know-how, patents and patent applications of FiLaser. Following the purchase, Rofin plans to use FiLaser’s patented technology to advance its laser systems and bring the technology to the industrial laser market. ‘With the signing of the asset purchase agreement, we are able to upgrade and complement our comprehensive ultrashort pulse laser offering with a specialised unique technology for the cutting of brittle materials, like glass and sapphire,’ said Günther Braun, president and CEO of Rofin-Sinar. ‘The commercialisation of this technology is an important step for the industry in improving the cutting performance of these materials and subsequently the wider use of laser technology.’

Jeffrey Albelo, CEO and chairman of FiLaser, also commented on the transaction: ‘Rofin is an ideal technology commercialisation vector, bringing scale, experience and integration prowess to bear on the problems of technology development and dissemination. We expect great things and we are excited to have our technology become a part of the Rofin technology portfolio.’